The Stormont House Agreement

The Stormont House Agreement of December 2014 included a range of potential changes for Northern Ireland. Devolution of corporation tax, flexibility in welfare reform implementation, the creation of an opposition in the Assembly and establishment of a number of bodies to consider elements of the legacy of the past, were contained in the Agreement. It was accompanied by a package of almost £2 billion in support from the UK Government.

In November 2015, after ten weeks of cross-party talks, ‘A Fresh Start: the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ was devised to build on the SHA and “Bring closer the goal of a Northern Ireland where politics works, the economy grows and society is stronger.”

The Stormont House Agreement features financial support from the UK Treasury, including a contribution of up to £500m over 10 years of new capital funding to support shared and integrated education. This will be distirbuted subject to individual projects being agreed between the Executive and the UK Government.